One month in jail for Possession of Soap

[Johan]

Charges dropped for NY pair after a month in jail when ‘*******’ proves to be soap



Authorities have dropped charges against a New York pair who spent nearly a month in jail after tests confirmed two kilograms of ******* were, in fact, soap.

A state trooper pulled the couple over Nov. 13 on Interstate 78 in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, for driving 5 mph over the speed limit and hugging the side of the lane.
The trooper said he smelled *********, and the driver, 26-year-old Annadel Cruz, admitted that she’d smoked pot before leaving New York City.
Cruz consented to a search of the new Mercedes-Benz, and the trooper found two brick-size packages covered in clear plastic wrap and red tape in a bag stowed in the trunk.
The driver said the packages contained soap she’d made herself, but the trooper performed a field test that showed the presence of ******* and arrested Cruz and her passenger, 30-year-old Alexander Bernstein.
Investigators said they found a small amount of ********* in Cruz’s bra, and the couple was charged with possession with intent to deliver *******, possession of *******, conspiracy and possession of **** paraphernalia.
Cruz also was charged with possession of a small amount of *********, disregarding traffic lanes and speeding.
Bernstein was sent to Lehigh County Prison under $500,000 bail and Cruz under $250,000 bail by District Judge Jacob Hammond.

They remained in jail until last week, when the Lehigh County district attorney’s office dropped the charges after a state police lab tested the packages and found they did not contain *******, only soap.
Attorneys are questioning the arrest and investigation, saying the trooper racially profiled the couple and bungled the field test.
“I think it is a nice car with out-of-state plates and a Hispanic female behind the wheel” that prompted the traffic stop, said Josh Karoly, an attorney for Bernstein. “If it was me driving that car, this wouldn’t have happened.”

An attorney for Cruz said the case calls into question any field test conducted by police.
“After this, everyone should pause about jumping to conclusions when a field test is said to be positive by ***************,” said attorney Robert Goldman. “There are people going to jail on high bail amounts based upon these field tests.”
Karoly said he doubts the field test actually happened, or he said the trooper may have lied about the results or performed it improperly.
“A young man spent a month in jail, spent a substantial amount of money to get out of jail and missed Thanksgiving with his 17-month-old ***,” Karoly said. “To do that on a field test, we better be darn sure that these field tests are accurate.”
Bernstein posted bail Tuesday, the day before prosecutors told him they were dropping the charges, and Cruz was released Wednesday.

Cruz, a community college student with no prior criminal record, said she was upset that she had been identified as a *********** in national news reports.
“Her name is all over the place, making light of her defense that she was just transporting soap,” Goldman said. “She was labeled online as a ***********, she was incarcerated with people who do commit crimes. It’s going to take her a good deal of time to get her good name back.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/...month-in-jail-when-*******-proves-to-be-soap/ http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/12/...month-in-jail-when-*******-proves-to-be-soap/

 

[Will E Worm]

Attorneys are questioning the arrest and investigation, saying the trooper racially profiled the couple and bungled the field test.
“I think it is a nice car with out-of-state plates and a Hispanic female behind the wheel” that prompted the traffic stop, said Josh Karoly, an attorney for Bernstein. “If it was me driving that car, this wouldn’t have happened.”

Lawsuit time. :hammer:


Police are going to have to understand they are civil servants, and nothing more.

 

[Little Red Wagon Repairman]

Thought a horrible offense in France had occurred and all were up in armpits at the light sentence.

 

[mikexmoran]

Just makes me think that the mandatory sentences need to be addressed. We take people who are not hardened criminals, put them in a hell hole, ruin their lives, and turn them into criminals.

 

[Rey C.]

From the comments section in the story:

NoBigGovDuh
• 6 days ago

WHY WAS THE FEMALE GIVEN HALF THE BAIL AMOUNT BUT HAD MORE CHARGES?

THAT IS NOT LEGAL

Interesting question. I don't know the answer.

A question I have is, what is the cop's name? He is clearly either incompetent (in performing the test) or a criminal (in lying about the results). I see no reason for him not to be identified.

 

[bobjustbob]

I couldn't help it. When was the last time you saw this?

 

[Jagger69]

Thought a horrible offense in France had occurred and all were up in armpits at the light sentence.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Dino Velvet again.


Priceless!!! :1orglaugh:rofl2: :rofl:

 

[HehehehehehehehehehahaHyena]

Just don't drop it...

 

[Harpsman]

Lucky they didn't get Lifebuoy